• Uncategorized

  Japan is Not Thrilled by the 3DS. Here’s Why.

  So far, Nintendo’s 3DS looks to be a bust. This could change; the portable is still early in its lifecycle. But Japanese gamers aren’t exactly snapping the machine up. There must be reasons for this. Turns out, there are. Online research firm Goo polled 1,110 Japanese consumers (39.5 percent were men and 60.5 percent were…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 1, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Madden 12’s Cover Is Brought to You by the Colour Brown

  I hope you like the colour brown, because it’s the real star of this year’s Madden 12 cover art, both versions of the game looking more like a Gears of War map than something from a game played on bright green fields. The regular edition of the game, featuring cover star Peyton Hillis, can’t help…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2011
• Uncategorized

  A Natural Hug Pillow Evolution

  Hug pillows, or “dakimakura” as they’re called in Japanese, are otaku bedroom staples. But what if you didn’t hug the pillow, but the pillow hugged you? That’s the concept behind this “dakaremakura” that features Super Sonico, the virtual idol created by game company Nitro Plus. Out this August, this “hug me” pillow cover features two…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 1, 2011
• 

  Uncategorized

  The New Age of Empires is Looking Sharp

  Age of Empires Online, which is a lot more enjoyable than it sounds on paper, will be out in August. Here’s a damn fine trailer to go with that announcement. I never thought I could be sold on a war game with a trailer showing nobody being killed, and yet here we are. AoE Online…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Online Death Threats Lead to Arrest

  Aya Hirano rocketed to fame with roles in anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya and video games like Eternal Sonata. But in summer 2010, Hirano decided to make the leap from voice actress to TV celebrity, pissing off her rabid fan base in the process. On May 29, a Twitter account believed to belong to…

  By Brian Ashcraft Published June 1, 2011
• Uncategorized

  And You Will Know Mario Games by The Colour of Their Boxes

  In Japan, Nintendo has a practice of releasing more mature titles in black boxes. In America, pretty much the opposite is about to happen. From now on, a range of Mario’s DS games in the US will stand out on the shelf with a bright red case, drawing the eye of the customer towards the…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Nintendo’s Next Console May Have Something In Common With the iPhone

  We’ve heard that the touch-screen controllers used in Nintendo’s next home console will have a camera. It appears that California-based OmniVision, who among others works with Apple on its iPhones, may be supplying those cameras. OmniVision specialises in camera solutions for handheld devices, and for a few years has supplied the swish back-facing camera sensors…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2011
• 

  CultureTotal Recall

  Behind the Scenes of The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past

  For the past few years, Nintendo has run a series of interviews on its website called “Iwata Asks”, giving us behind-the-scenes looks at some of the company’s most important games and pieces of hardware. This interview, though, does not involve Iwata. And was never on Nintendo’s website. Because it was conducted in 1991, and involved…

  By Luke Plunkett Published June 1, 2011
• Uncategorized

  What Are Ya Buyin’?

  Bienvenidos, Kotaku. I trust you had an enjoyable three-day weekend, should you happen to be a resident of these United States. If not, then I apologize. Let’s get right to it. It’s Tuesday (yes!) which means we got a themed open thread on our hands. It’s been a while since I asked you about the…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  The Art of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm

  In addition to releasing dozens of new screen shots for StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, Blizzard’s second chapter in the real-time strategy trilogy, the developer also offered us a look at some early, Zerg-centric concept art. Kotaku also spoke with Blizzard senior artist Sam Didier about his team’s work on the upcoming Heart of…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Sony’s E3 2011 Press Conference Is Also Streaming Live In PlayStation Home

  Would you prefer to experience the magic of Sony’s E3 2011 press conference from the comfort of your PlayStation 3? Of course you would, just like you’d prefer that announcement-filled keynote speech to have dozens of people doing the cabbage patch. That’s why the first ever public video stream of Sony’s E3 presser will be…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Well, Look Who’s Making Video Games Now… Mad Catz!

  Mad Catz, perhaps best known now for its fighting game joysticks and flight sim controllers is getting into the game development game, aiming high with the creation of Thunderhawk Studios. The newly formed studio’s focus is… an MMO flight sim. Or, to be more specific, ThunderHawk (not pictured) will “focus on developing a series of…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• 

  Uncategorized

  Zynga’s Next Big Game Takes CityVille and Adds War

  There are signs of conflict in the next major video game from FarmVille and CityVille juggernaut Zynga, signs that might look to some long-time gamers of a bit of classic strategy games like Nintendo’s Advance Wars being absorbed into a game Zynga might as well have called CombatVille. Or WarVille, if you will. Starting on…

  By Stephen Totilo Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Microsoft Hints At Xbox 360’s ‘Entertainment Strategy’ Before E3 2011

  What does Microsoft have planned for its E3 2011 showing? Probably plenty of Kinect-centric fare and heretofore unannounced (officially anyway) video games. But the company is also teasing a new “entertainment brand” focus for the console and its motion controller. Frank X. Shaw, corporate VP of Corporate Communications at Microsoft, writes on the Official Microsoft…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  “I work for the company. But don’t let that fool you…”

  Aliens Vs. Colonial Marines | A poster depicting the U.S.S. Sulaco from Aliens. (Photo by Crecente. Poster sent to my home from a C. Burke. ) Next Year Will See A Return To Metro 2033‘s Horrific Russian Underground They call it their flawed masterpiece. Released last year, 4A Games’ Metro 2033 gave gamers a chance…

  By Brian Crecente Published May 31, 2011
• 

  Uncategorized

  He Has Only Four Lives To Save the Princess, And Now He’s Down to Three

  YouTube filmmaking duo The Country Club have struck again with another inventive, video game-inspired short film. In December, the pair gave us a trailer for a grittier, sleazier incarnation of the Super Mario Bros. set in the universe of Grand Theft Auto IV Titled “REPEAT,” their newest video is yet another spin on the Mario…

  By Drew Cohen Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  A Mega Man Tribute That Makes Us Feel All Warm Inside

  Mega Man and the clan are ready for a fight in Ry Shiu’s entry into UDON’s Mega Man Tribute Contest. More submissions can be found HERE! Related Rampages: The City of Hyrule | Donkey Kong (More) Mega Man by Ry Shiu (deviantART) (Facebook) (Twitter) Need your daily fill of geek eye candy? If so, head…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  Get A Taste of Dungeon Siege III on Xbox 360 Today, Next Week Elsewhere

  Square Enix and Obsidian Entertainment have released a playable demo of dungeon crawler Dungeon Siege III for Xbox 360 today. People who would prefer to play it on PC or PlayStation 3 will have to wait until June 7 to try it out.

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  First Details on Crimson Alliance, An RPG from People Who Help Make Halo and Call of Duty

  Last week, the official existence of Crimson Alliance, a game from developer Certain Affinity, was outed by Australia’s ratings board. We didn’t know much about the game then, but we do now—it’s definitely not a sequel to Crimson Skies According to developer Certain Affinity, a “boutique studio” that has lent its development talent to Call…

  By Michael McWhertor Published May 31, 2011
• Uncategorized

  New Catherine Screens Are the Stuff of Vincent’s Sheep-Infested Nightmares

  When sexy time is over and Vincent is done dealing with with Katherine and Catherine-related drama, he lays down his head and the real challenge begins. Enter the woolly world of nightmare in these latest Catherine screens. Vincent and friend spend their waking hours hanging out at the Stray Sheep, a trendy little bar where…

  By Mike Fahey Published May 31, 2011